| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 6772 | 2008-09-11 | Statewide | State Police Continues Efforts During Hurricane Recovery |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent HEADQUARTERS- NEWS RELEASE State Police Continues Efforts During Hurricane Recovery BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana State Police continues an active and coordinated role of providing public safety services to the public during the recovery period following the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. State Police is providing support to local agencies, parish governments and other state agencies for security, traffic management and logistical coordination. During the past ten days, the Louisiana State Police has investigated 837 crashes which resulted in 301 injuries and 9 fatalities. Troopers made 199 arrests and assisted 16, 999 motorists based on information collected so far. The following is a report of State Police activities currently being conducted around the state: Headquarters State Police personnel are staffing the Louisiana State Police Emergency Operation Center and has representatives in the Emergency Operations Center located at the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to coordinate statewide operations for the department. Troopers are coordinating recovery operations with other EOC agency representatives and monitoring the approach of Hurricane Ike for potential evacuation needs. Troop A Troop A personnel are assisting local and parish officials with traffic management as utility crews repair downed power lines and DOTD repairs non-functional traffic signals at major intersections. Troopers and National Guardsmen are providing security and traffic support at food stamp distribution sites as needed. Two troopers and three National Guardsmen are available to assist at the Plaquemine Civic Center in Plaquemine. An additional two troopers and three National Guardsmen are available to assist at the Pointe Coupee Multi-Use Center in New Roads. Troopers are patrolling areas for criminal activity in conjunction with local sheriff’s offices. Since Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008, Troop A has investigated 276 crashes resulting in one fatality and 58 injuries. Troopers made 22 arrests and 1,179 public assists. Troop B Troop B personnel are assisting local and parish officials with traffic management and community protection. Troopers are working double shifts and assisting the City of New Orleans with Looting Patrols. They are working in conjunction with the National Guard and agents with Louisiana Probation and Parole to provide security and traffic support as needed at food stamp distribution sites. Ten troopers and 20 National Guardsman are available to assist at the New Orleans Convention Center; Five troopers and 25 National Guardsman are available to assist at the Alario Center in Jefferson Parish; two troopers, five Probation and Parole agents and three National Guardsman are available to assist at the St. Patrick Family Life Center in Port Sulphur. Since Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008, Troop B has investigated 87 crashes resulting in 20 injuries. Troopers made 5 arrests and 1,166 public assists. Troop C Troop C personnel are assisting local and parish officials with traffic management and community protection by patrolling parish and state highways throughout the Troop C area. Troopers are keeping roadways clear to allow emergency workers and utility crews easier access to storm-affected areas that do not have essential services. Troopers, National Guardsman, and the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association are providing security and traffic support as needed at food stamp distribution sites. Two troopers, five sheriff’s deputies, and three National Guardsman are available to assist at the Bayou Black Recreation Center in Houma; two troopers, five sheriff’s deputies and three National Guardsman are available to assist at the LaRose-Cut Off Junior High School in LaRose. Since Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008, Troop C has investigated 90 crashes resulting in one fatality and 41 injuries. Troopers made 9 arrests and 1,964 public assists. Troop D Troop D personnel are assisting local and parish officials with traffic management and community protection. At 10:00 a.m. on September 9, Cameron parish officials ordered a mandatory evacuation of residents due to the potential threat posed by Hurricane Ike. Troopers are assisting parish and local law enforcement with the evacuation. Since Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008, Troop D has investigated 53 crashes resulting in eight injuries and one fatality. Troopers made 24 arrests and 1,125 public assists. Troop E Troop E personnel have resumed normal patrols and will respond to requests for support from local and parish officials. Troopers and National Guardsman are providing security and traffic support as needed at food stamp distribution sites. Two troopers and three National Guardsman are available to assist at the Rapides Parish OFS in Alexandria; Six troopers and ten National Guardsman are available to assist at the Rapides Business and Career Solutions Center located in Alexandria. Since Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008, Troop E has investigated 97 crashes resulting four fatalities and 54 injuries. Troopers made 18 arrests and 2,705 public assists. Troop F Troop F personnel have resumed normal patrols and will respond to requests for support from local and parish officials. Troopers continue to provide security at the ULM shelter in Monroe where 50 evacuees remain sheltered. Since Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008, Troop F has investigated 75 crashes resulting in 25 injuries. Troopers made 36 arrests and 1,797 public assists. Troop G Troop G personnel have resumed normal patrols and will respond to requests for support from local and parish officials. Since Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008, Troop G has investigated 13 crashes resulting in five injuries. Troopers made 31 arrests and 1,528 public assists. Troop I Troop I personnel are assisting local and parish officials with traffic management and community protection. Troopers, National Guardsman, Probation and Parole agents, Wildlife and Fisheries agents, Louisiana Sheriff’s Association deputies and ULL officers are providing security and traffic support as needed at the food stamp distribution sites. Two troopers and three National Guardsmen are available to assist at St. Theresa Catholic Church Hall in Abbeville; four troopers, 20 National Guardsmen, four Wildlife and Fisheries agents, five ULL officers, and five sheriff’s deputies are available to assist at the Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette; two troopers and three National Guardsmen are available to assist at the Magnolia City Park in St. Martinville. Since Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008, Troop I has investigated 166 crashes resulting in 62 injuries and one fatality. Troopers made 26 arrests and 1,252 public assists. Troop L Troop L personnel continue to support local and parish officials with traffic management and community protection. Four troopers and five Probation and Parole agents are providing security and traffic support as needed at the food distribution site located at the Castine Center in Mandeville. Since Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008, Troop L has investigated 77 crashes resulting in one fatality and 28 injuries. Troopers made 30 arrests and 4,283 public assists. Bureau of Investigation The Bureau of Investigation has dedicated some of its personnel to State Police Troop offices to support traffic and security operations around the state. Investigators with the Insurance Fraud Unit are actively investigating reports of insurance fraud related to claims made from alleged damages to personal property during Hurricane Gustav. Criminal investigators are actively investigating reports of identity theft, contractor fraud, and state property theft, which occurred in the days following the storm. Air Support Unit The State Police Air Support Unit continues to provide aerial patrols of state and parish highways. Pilots are also providing air transportation to local, state and federal officials for storm damage assessments around the state. Hazardous Materials/Explosives Unit The Hazardous Materials/ Explosives Unit is continuing its safety inspections and monitoring of railroads, chemical plants, refineries, storage facilities and explosives licensees as these entities resume their daily operations. The Louisiana State Police will continue to provide public safety and assistance to the citizens of Louisiana. To contact the Louisiana State Police for information, please call 1-800-426-4828. For road hazards or emergencies dial *LSP (*577). For more information contact: Sgt. Markus L. Smith Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Headquarters Office: (225) 925-6202 markus.smith@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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